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Electrostatic field-enabled ultra-efficient evaporative cooling

Author

Listed:
  • Jun Yan Tan

    (Nanyang Technological University)

  • Jason Jovi Brata

    (Nanyang Technological University)

  • Jipeng Fei

    (Nanyang Technological University)

  • Junyu Ge

    (Nanyang Technological University)

  • Mengjie Song

    (Beijing Institute of Technology)

  • Xuan Zhang

    (Beijing Institute of Technology)

  • Guijin Zou

    (Tsinghua University)

  • See Wee Koh

    (Nanyang Technological University)

  • Huajian Gao

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Shuzhou Li

    (Nanyang Technological University)

  • Hong Li

    (Nanyang Technological University
    Research Techno Plaza)

Abstract

In the global sustainability drive, the role of water in the water-energy nexus is increasingly prominent due to the potential of passive evaporative cooling. However, the feasibility of evaporative cooling as a sustainable cooling alternative is currently limited by a lack of energy-efficient enhancement methods. Meanwhile, though electrostatic field-enhanced water evaporation has been widely documented, its underlying mechanism and impact on evaporative cooling remain unclear. Herein, we present experimental evidence establishing causality between electrostatic fields and evaporative cooling enhancement. We reveal two dominant factors at play, i.e., generation of ionic wind and tuning of vaporization enthalpy. The efficiency of the cooling enhancement method, when operating around the corona onset voltage, far exceeds that of conventional evaporative coolers. Similar cooling enhancements were also demonstrated on solid water within a hydrogel, showcasing its potential for practical applications. In addition, the electrostatic field reduces the vaporization enthalpy of solid water by altering the surface molecular arrangement, a finding corroborated through Raman spectroscopy. Besides elucidating cooling enhancement mechanisms, this study expands the toolkit for passive cooling solutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Jun Yan Tan & Jason Jovi Brata & Jipeng Fei & Junyu Ge & Mengjie Song & Xuan Zhang & Guijin Zou & See Wee Koh & Huajian Gao & Shuzhou Li & Hong Li, 2025. "Electrostatic field-enabled ultra-efficient evaporative cooling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-63264-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63264-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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